Flushing apparatus for water closet systems



8, 1934. J. A. VOGEL 1,985,119

FLUSHING APPARATUS FOR WATER CLOSET SYSTEMS I 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed June 28, 1933 i l I Jose e] a I k Y 34 I I {I} i L D66. 18, J A VOGEL FLUSHING APPARATUS FOR WATER CLOSET SYSTEMS Filed June 28, 1933 Patented Dec. 18, 1934 UNITED STATES- FLUSHING APPARATUS FORWATEB, CLOSET Y E-Ms Joseph A. Vogel, Wilmington, Del., assignor, to s ph A- V03 1. ompan Wi min on 11!" p rat on. of D law Application June 28, 1933, Serial No. 678,046

Claims.

This invention relates to siphon drain devices for use in connection with water closet and other similar water supply systems, whereby the drainage of water from a portion ofthe system from 5 which Water should be drained after a water flush or supply action may be automatically effected.

More particularly the invention relates to a siphon device for water closet systems of the frostproof type, such as a Vogel frost-proof water closet system, for automatically draining off water remaining in the system after a flushing action and which would be liable to freeze in cold weather or be subject to contamination from any cause. The invention, however, may be embodied in frost-proof drinking fountains, wash sinks, hydrants, and other like water service apparatus having a. drain or waste outlet connection with a waste disposal or sewer line and from which it is desirable to drain residual water after each flush or water supply action.

The main object of the invention is to provide a simple, reliable and eff cient type of siphon for draining off the water remaining in portions of the system above the frost line and liable to be exposed to freezing temperature or to be subject to contamination with the result of causing damage to the apparatus or fouling of the water in the water supply system.

Another object of the invention is to provide a siphon tube device of novel arrangement, for the automaticsiphoning off of residual water remaining in the system above the frost line after a service action, whereby a quick and effective discharge of all water above the frost line will be reliably effected.

Still another object of the invention is to pro- 1 vide an auxiliary valve controlled waste port which will operate to discharge the residual water to the exterior in the event of the amount of residual water being insufiicient to create a siphonage discharge action. v

Still another object of the invention is to provide an intakeor vacuum break element to break siphonage in theevent that the bowl should become filled and overflowing.

With these and other objectsin view, the invention consists of the featuresof construction, combination and arrangement of parts, herein- -after fully described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig.1 is a side elevation showing the application of the invention to ya Vogel type of frost-proof @water closet.

fi iss-a e ttice non zt r e sect n ih fq l the water supply and drain valve mechanism thereof on an'enlarged'scale'and showing theappli a i Oi he ih nt o tlie gte- Fig. 3 is aview in rear elevation of the upper portion of the st'andpip'e and showing more particularly the arrangement of the siphon device.

Fig.4 is a vertical transverse section through the lower'portion of the standpipe on a further -enlarged'scale and" more-clearly jshowi'ngicerta'in f eaturesof'const'ruction'. 10 Fig. '5 is a frat rnentary section through the rear portion of the owl and showing the vacuum relief or break detice and drain channel'as'sociated therewith.

In the'illustratfid emb diment of the inven- 1 tion, It haveffor purpose of exemplification, shown the same in application to a Yogel frostproof type of"waterlcloset combination, but it is to beunderstood that the invention is not limited in application in'this respect, as it may 20 be used with similar advantages in connection withf frost proof drinking fountains, washsinks, hydrants, and "otherwater service apparatus for which it for may be adapted.

Referring now more particularly to the draw- 25 r ngs, 1 desi nates closet bowl provided at'its 1 upper rear portion with an inlet 2 for supply of'lflush" watenthereto and having an outlet 3 at its base'for connection, jin'thje usual manh w a'w'a Pi an ra formi s 'pa t of a waste" disposal pr sewagejsystem." In practice the trap (not shown) is designed to bearranged below the frost line, in the use of the loset in exposed places, inorder to revent liabilfity dfthefreezing ,Qf 'watertherein. V Di se c n th top of the bow and n a ,t iero i eva v a in fumed wit n upper ,f lu'sli chamber ,5, a fiush discharge outlet .6, ai d'a lower flush cfharnberor' passage 7 having a lateral" -sow and loutnow' connection'B. 40

- e7flusl d sqhaie ou l 161' commu c te w t thinlt 2 ,o'flthe bowl'while' the connection 8 is providedfor' icommunication with the water supply Ltank 9; jliiter'lding"1downwardly from the lower end of the leasing is'a standpipe' orjconv cluctor it) having flawater inlet, 11 at its lower erid for lconnecti'onlwith 'a water service or supply .pipe' 12 'and'havin'g a drain outlet 13 above the level of the water inlet 11, for a purpose hereinafter described. Arranged within the valve casing 5 and the" standpipe 10 afvalve stern l4 carryingwithin the chamber 7 an, upper flushingvalve 15 1. 93" able. to alternatelyopen and close. communication betweenIthei chambersYB and .7. At its1jlower5 end the valve stem carries a valve 16 controlling the water supply inlet 11 and a valve 17 controlling the drain outlet 13, portions of the valve stem above and below the plane of the drain valve 17 being of openwork construction or provided with ports 18 and 19 to allow water to flow between the pipe 10 above the level of the drain valve and the drain outlet 13 or water inlet 11 in the different positions of the valve members 16 and 17. A spring 20 associated with the upper end of the valve acts, in conjunction with gravity, to maintain the valve device-in a position in which valve 16 closes inlet 11, valve 17 is open and connects that part of the pipe 10 above the drain valve with the drain outlet 13, and the valve member 15 is open so that chambers 5 and 7 and the closet and tank are in open communication. A forked arm 21 carried by the pivotally mounted closet seat 22 engages under a head 23 fixed to the upper projecting end of the valve stem and operates thereon to lift the valve when the seat is depressed. On

depression of the seat the valve stem is raised to close valve 15 and cut off communication between the pipe 10 and the bowl and to move valve 17 to a position in which it closes the drain pipe 13 and simultaneously moves valve 16 to open position, for the upfiow of water through the connection 8 from the supply pipe 12 to the tank 9. The tank will thereupon be filled with water and the air therein compressed until the pressure equals or exceeds that in the supply line, at which the flow of water will be automatically cut off. When the seat 22 is released spring 20 moves the valve stem downward to close the valve 16 and to open the valve 15 to establish communication between the tank and bowl for the flushing action and to simultaneously open communication between the lower end of the pipe 11 and the drain outlet 15 for the subsequent drainage off of residual water remaining in the flushing connection at the end of the flushing action, as hereinafter described.

My invention provides for use in connection with this or any other type of flushing apparatus in connection with which it may be employed, a siphonage device 24 for the purpose of effecting a rapid siphonage off from the standpipe and parts of the flushing system above the inlet valve of any and all water remaining in the flushing system, in order to avoid any possibility of the freezing or contamination thereof.

This'siphonage device comprises a looped tube having a short limb 25 and a long limb 26 connected at their upper ends by a return portion 27. The limbs or legs 25 and 26 are arranged in parallel relation to the pipe 10 and the return portion is preferably disposed so as to loop about the connection 8 and to lie at'a level above the highest level of the bowl. The short limb 25 extends downwardly from the return portion 27 and communicates at its lower end with the standpipe 10 through a passage 28, at about the level of the drain outlet 13, so that in theclosed position of valve 17 both passages 13 and 28 will be closed while in the open position of said valve 17 both of said passages 13 and 28 will be open. The longer or outlet leg 26 of the siphon extends downwardly to a point below the level of the lower end of leg 25 for the discharge of the siphon water therefrom into the ground outside the standipe or into a suitable outlet connection. The leg 26 is made of such length relative to the leg 25 as to ensure an efficient siphonage action and in practice this leg 26 may be made of fluted or z'ig-zag form or otherwise offset or shaped to increase its effective length to a degree greater than the distance between its upper and lower ends in order to further quicken and increase the efficiency of the siphonage action.

It will be understood that in operation the siphonage device, which may be made of copper tubing of suitable gage, is primed for action by the upfiow of water through its leg 25 into its leg 26 during the flushing action and that, upon the closing of the valve 16, and cessation of the flushing action, the water remaining trapped in the pipe 10 will be immediately siphoned off through the siphonage device, in order that a sufficient amount of water is present for the siphonage action, so that the standpipe and its connections above the water supply valve will be freed from water liable to freeze or to be contaminated. By, this means all liability of freezing of pipes or derangement of parts of the flushing apparatus due to freezing during cold weather, particularly when the parts of the flushing apparatus above the inlet valve are arranged above the frost line,

will be prevented in a certain, reliable and eflicient manner at all times whenever there is a sufficient amount of residual water present to operate the siphonage discharge device. By this means, also, the flushing apparatus, when not in use, will be kept clear of any water liable to be fouled by sewage or other contamination.

The drainage connection 13 is provided in order to ensure discharge of any residual water from the standpipe in the event that the amount of water remaining is not sufficient to cause a siphonage action. This outlet 13 communicates through a pipe 29 terminating in an open valve cage 30 in which is arranged a ball valve 31. This valve opens automatically to permit of a drainage action and then closes to seal the drainage connection 13 against the admission of air, water or other foreign substances. This valve 31 operates to close the outlet 13 at all times and particularly when said outlet is not closed by the valve 17, the valve 31 being of such size and weight as to open readily under the pressure of a comparatively small amount of water in the standpipe to effect the discharge of the water. The parts 30 and 31 are in practice preferably covered by a suitable hood 32 in order to shield the same 4 from obstruction or entrance by foreign particles.

In connection with the apparatus I may employ an air intake or vacuum break device 33 to break the vacuum and prevent siphonage in the event that the bowl should become filled and overflowing. This air intake or vacuum break device comprises a tube having one end 34 disposed in the passage 6 and the tube thence extends around part 6 and has its opposite end 35 disposed above a drain channel or vent passage 36 formed in the part 2 of the bowl and opening at its upper end through the rim of the bowl and communicating with the top of the body of the bowl below the base of the rim, through which channel or passage 36 any fluid entering said pipe 33 is permitted to discharge back into the bowl instead of upon the exterior thereof. This air intake or vacuum break device may also be used in connection with other similar flushing and water service systems.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the drawings, the construction, mode of operation and advantages of my invention will be readily understood and appreciated by those versed in the artwithout afurther and extended.

description. As stated, the invention may be used, not only in connection with frost-proof water closets and others where a siphonage discharge action of residual water is required or desirable, but also with frost-proof drinking fountains, wash sinks, hydrants, and other water service apparatus where such a device may be advantageously employed. While the. structural organization of the elements herein described and claimed is preferred, it is to be understood that changes in the form, construction and arrangement of parts falling within the scope of the appended claims may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention as set forth therein.

I claim:-

1. In a flushing apparatus for water closet systems having a water inlet valve located in the ground below the frost line, a siphon device having its intake leg connected to the supply line of the system above said valve for draining water from the system above the frost line after a flushing action.

2. In a flushing apparatus for water closet systems having a standpipe and a water supply valve therein located below the level of the bowl, a siphon device having its intake leg connected to the standpipe above the valve for draining water from the system above the level of said valve after a flushing action.

3. In a water closet flushing apparatus closed to the atmosphere, embodying a bowl, a tank, a

standpipe, and a valve comprising upper and lower valve members for admitting water to the standpipe and the tank and closing communication between the tank and bowl or cutting off the I flow of water to the standpipe and tank and allowing water to flow therefrom to the bowl, a siphon 5. In a flushing or water supply system, a bowl having a waste outlet, a standpipe having a water inlet and a drain outlet at its lower end and'a water outlet at its upper end leading to the bowl, inlet and discharge valves movable in unison and alternately controlling the inlet and outlet, a drain valve for closing the drain outlet when the inlet is open and opening the drain outlet when the inlet is closed, and a siphon device having its intake leg communicating with the pipe adjacent to the said inlet valve and having the discharge leg independent of connection with the waste outlet of the system.

' JOSEPH A. VOGEL. 

